Tough Mudder is Right! Part 1:

Three days ago, I completed my first Tough Mudder. I should probably back up a bit for all of you since I spent more time training the last few months instead of blogging about it. However, it's me and I figure, let's jump right in!

Mike and I decide on Tough Mudder SoCal after talking with some friends that live out there. They had considered it, and well, Mike and I always take "maybe" as "LET'S DO THIS". If you watch the show, How I Met Your Mother, you will understand when I say CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! 

We register for the race, book our flight, and start brainstorming quotes for T-shirts. It's us. It's what we do. Our friends looked at us like we were insane. In their minds, I imagine they were thinking "Wow. Seriously. We just said maybe it would be fun do this together, and these crazies are flying halfway across the country after a conversation at dinner?" Yes. Mike and I do that. I decide to do something crazy fun as a couple, and he makes it happen. 

What I think ACTUALLY happens is that my brain immediately goes to "Wow! We should totally do that! What a great way to bond with my husband!" and he thinks "Are you serious with this? I have to take on another challenge that can potentially give me OR my wife another serious joint surgery or broken bone? Not to mention how much this will cost us! FINE. I can't let her be tougher than me." I know deep down he thinks it's cool. 

So here we were, because I'm cute and he's agreeable, in Vail Park, Ca. On the way up to the starting line I heard a silly, little blonde thing exclaim "I sure hope I used my waterproof mascara this morning!" Oh honey, mascara is the least of your concerns. Then we see the wall you have to jump over the wall to get to the start line. Yes. You have to jump over a 6 foot wall before you can even start. I made it over. Barely. This is a point when I was grateful I brought that Under Armour cold gear top even though it looked silly. That will change...

Blissfully unaware

The energy at the start of the race was incredible. A group of people that are just a ball of nervous energy, excitement and pride in themselves for even getting as far as the start line. I wish I could've gotten a good picture of the "announcer" or whatever he was. He lifted anxious spirits, reminded us why were there, and above all, gave thanks to the soldiers that have, and continue to fight, for our country. You've never heard a national anthem sound quite so inspiring, until you hear veterans sing it.

Taking the Tough Mudder pledge

Then we're off to play King of the Mountain! Seriously. We don't have these in Kansas. I ask Mike if altitude can affect you if you are technically close to sea level. We have no idea what altitude we are actually at, but I do know I don't run as fast as he does. It's a good excuse, and just means that I need to step up my game at home. Here we are coming up on the second obstacle. Sweet. Let's do this. Make some friends and get a team challenge under our belts. The first obstacle was through a pit of mud under some barbed wire. Not bad...

That sign says "HELP YOUR FELLOW MUDDERS" in case you can't read it. It was just Mike and I. We needed friends. I knew after banging myself up getting over the starting line wall, that I needed help. Being the shy (note sarcasm) person I am, 3 seconds later, I found someone to help Mike throw me over the wall. Literally. Three guys threw me to the top of that wall. Mike scaled it all by himself. Damn him and his crazy athleticism. Then oh goodie. We get to do it again. There is a second wall. 

I will say, even though you don't see her, a girl on the other side of that wall, walked around it. I can be a tattle tale. SHE WALKED AROUND IT. I almost smacked her. COME ON! It's the FIRST OBSTACLE and you SKIPPED it! Oh, I get it. Your boyfriend made you do a Tough Mudder. I was pissed. That girl was going to get a headband at the end without completing all the tasks. Grrr. This thought pops back into my mind about 3.5 hours later.

Isn't he cute?

They break you in slowly. A few miles of running, then a team challenge followed by some more mud and barbed wire, or maybe it was the other way around. Either way, we still covered a several miles up a mountain, down a mountain, around a mountain, you get it. 

We conquered that path. 

Then it was time for the Wounded Warrior Challenge. We could've walked this one. Mike carried me through the first part of the challenge and then we switched, as instructed, we're no punks that skip obstacles. I didn't make it far, but I was impressed with myself that I got him on my shoulders.

Mike is smiling but he was thinking "Take the damn picture before she drops me."

After discussing how cold my hands were getting, we saw a sign that said "If you were in a Warrior Dash you would be done by now" or something like that. We laughed and talked about how much fun we were having. It was challenging for sure, but fun. Little did we know we had 3.5 hours left. 

We stopped and looked around for a bit and appreciated the view. It was a moment that all I could do was
thank God and appreciate how awesome He really is to create something so amazing. 

See the tents close to the lake? We didn't get close to those for another hour or so. Do you see the pair of white rectangle looking things off on their own? Those were the Arctic Enema tanks we discovered. 

Tarp covered trash container filled with ice water. Mud provided by participants.

It was exactly like it looks in the picture. A giant, muddy pile of ice in a tank, and we got in it VOLUNTARILY. I have spent a fair share of time in ice baths in my college days. It felt very similar. Pins and needles and are you kidding me?!?! Oh wait, my knees instantly feel nice. Hold on a minute. I have to go under that beam? Hmmm, never went chest deep in college, but I can jump right out. We go for it. 

 Of course, Mike goes right through it, no problem. Figures...

The chick to my right didn't realize she could put her feet down, or she's a moron.

I stood there for a little bit and waited for the volunteer to take my pic. I was cold but still could give the thumbs up. 

The face is not because I was so cold, but because my boobs hit the water under that beam.
THAT wasn't pleasant. 

I realized the hardest part of this for me was not just the cold, but walking through it. All the ice in the tank was like a cement pile. Slow. Motion. Freeze. By the end, I really did want out, but probably could've sat there for a while. It had this odd, familiar feel to it that reminded me of college. Hey, who doesn't want to be a collegiate athlete again? 

*More to come... "Tough Mudder is right! Part 2:" in a few days. 

Follow me on Twitter: @LauraHeddenPT

Find me on a mountain skiing in a few days.